28. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 28)

Part 28



The Raizadas turned up in full force to request the Guptas to give their sanki daughter, Khushi to Arnav Singh Raizada, their papad ka tukda.

"So, what do you think, Sasiji?" nani asked, beaming away.

Sasi swallowed hard, throwing a glance at his wife and sister who looked scared at the way things were turning out.

"Woh..., that is, don't you think Khushi is too young for Arnav bitwaa?" he managed to ask.

Nani's smile faded.

"Bhat ijj age?" Manorama asked. "Can you tells my agewaa phrom looking at me?"

Buaji sagged in her chair. Garima drew in a deep breath.

"And our Khussi is childish, gets into scrapes all the time. She will make Arnav bitwaa a bad wife," Sasi tried again.

Garima and buaji nodded furiously, in full agreement.

"Theek keh rahe ho, babua," buaji added.

"Our Chotey is too serious for his age, babuji," Anjali said with a smile. "He needs someone who will help him lighten up."

Sasi gasped.

"Let us have Arnav talk to Khussi bitiya," nani suggested.

All faces cleared.

"Yes, yes," Garima said.

"Yes, that is a good idea," Sasi said thankfully for the respite.

"I will ask him to come over now," Anjali said, quickly taking her phone and leaving the room.

The Guptas, who had expected at least a day's time to persuade Khushi, sat stunned at the fast pace of events.


                                                                    ***

Arnav Singh Raizada walked into buaji's house in Laxmi Nagar in fifteen minutes flat, breaking speed records.

"Chotey, Sasiji thinks you should talk to Khussi bitiya yourself," nani explained.

He nodded.

Sasi cleared his throat. "Jiji, Garima, call Khussi," he croaked.

"Ji," Garima said, getting up to summon the heroine and the source of all their problems.

Buaji just gave up and sat back, chanting, "Hai Re Nandkisore, Hai Re Nandkisore!"

Garima and Payal led Khushi into the living room.

Khushi lifted her eyes and saw the Rakshas in his black suit and lavender shirt, sitting comfortably in her buaji's chair. She stumbled, catching her foot in the hem of her pink lehenga.

"Khushi, careful," Payal whispered.

What was the use of being careful now that the milk was already spilt? Her refusal to marry him had brought him to her house. She drew in a deep breath trying to still the butterflies and buffaloes doing bhangra in her tummy.

Arnav looked his fill.

Pink lehenga, golden choli and dupatta, long golden earrings caressing the fine lines of her neck, her hair coiled up in a fancy knot, an antique necklace enclosing her beautiful and creamy neck, slim gold bangles on her arms....Somewhere in his chest, a volcano of feelings erupted.

"Let's leave them to talk, Sasiji," nani suggested.

"Yes," Sasi said, looking uncertainly at Khushi.

The Guptas and the Raizadas moved to the dining room to have tea.

Buaji murmured in Khushi's ear as she passed by, "Don't be foolish. Think of Payaliya's future, Nandkisore."

Garima whispered, "Saavdhan, Khussi."

Khushi drew in a deep breath tinged with a feeling of hurt. Were her desires of so little value that they had to be sacrificed at every altar? She looked at the Rakshas with angry eyes. He was the source of all her problems.

"Sit down, Khushi," he invited in his husky voice.

She pursed her lips. He was inviting her to sit down in her own buaji's living room? The audacity of it!

She sat down as far as possible from him.

He got up and took the seat by her.

Khushi looked upwards. Devi Maiyya would get an earful tonight, she decided.